Some random shots from recent trips to Southport

just a silly slide show from last week

Coach

A tropical paradise, eh? Our coffee destination on Bald Head Island.

Live oak out the guest room window at Coach's house near dawn

I heart this bunny sculpture seen in Coach's neighborhood

A range light at the northern tip of Oak Island

The channel between Bald Head and Oak Islands

View from water front at Southport

Same range light, from the ocean side of Oak Island

Can you see this fog-bow? The "pot of gold" is the marina at Southport. Coach hit the jackpot!

The other end of the fog-bow

I have noticed a trend

I once practiced an esoteric sport with few participants and all those most likely crazy. It is a gear-heavy sport; one where each piece of gear is designed to either protect one's self or break one's opponent.

me, leaving the field 2005 credit bogpages.com

Krov and I back to back 2006 credit bogpages.com

Keegan, myself, and KooKoo 2001 credit bogpages.com

Notice the elaborate equipment? The gear alone could take a gal two years on average to build and acquire. She might make some herself while relying on more experienced fighters, advising during the building and buying phase. Regardless of how she came up with all her other gear her helmet would have to be purchased, because very few people have access to the kind of equipment needed to shape and weld 12 gauge steel. My particular helmet, which I am rather proud of, was custom made for me by Johann Blau. It is a dinky little thing, an "English Lobster Pot."

So now I no longer fight but I still have a sport that is equipment intensive. I mean, look at this:

Okay, I KNOW your attention was grabbed by the bright red English phone box! So I cropped it out. Now, *look* at "Coach." If ever there was an embodiment of well-used and worn equipment it is on this guy. He is wearing the BCU (British Canoe Union) standard for every last item. Each piece has a function, a purpose.

When I first found this photo while editing my pictures from a recent trip to Southport NC, it rang a bell. A loud bell, or maybe that sound was the boom of a battle-starting cannon...

I really am a gear-head. Holy cow, Gulfstream Dennis is right! I have some weird gear-fetish. The buying, the maintaining, the using, of said gear bringing me great satisfaction, even joy.

Well, it could always be worse. At least it's not drugs or alcohol, or gods-forbid, cigarettes. Even chocolate is not as dear to my heart as my boats. What a strange life I have. I hope you, my dear reader, are entertained in some small part.  There is a phrase that I feel embodies my style, my gear-style: it is an Italian phrase "Bella in Selle," which means "beautiful in the saddle." It is a term applied to cycling but in this case I think it fits paddling as well.

Welcome to my beautiful life. I hope you enjoy the tour.

Return to Nanjemoy on Sunday

On Sunday our plans to paddle from Jonas Green out to the Thomas Point Light where cancelled due to high winds. Andy (WKC) suggested Nanjemoy Creek, which made me laugh. But then I considered the reputation of the Creek as a birding spot. Knowing that going left would not lead us to bird life I suggested we leave Friendship Landing and paddle to the right into the narrowing creek.

We must have had two dozen bald eagle sightings. The place is "lousy" with them! At one point we watched an enormous eagle standing on the creek bank, clearly eating something. When she finally flew off her size was a little surprising. Because we were so close we really got a sense of just how big these birds are in real life.

Nanjemoy Creek definitely makes my list of desirable paddles.

There was a flock of about 12 fat white geese hanging out by this isolated and quite charming old farmhouse. You can just make them out next to the house. With smoke coming from the chimney, it was easy to imagine this house as heavenly.

A Saturday Spent Exploring Nanjemoy Creek

Saturday I went to a launch I had never been before, Friendship Landing on Nanjemoy Creek. I had been lucky to score a spot on this trip and was excited to paddle somewhere new. There were 30 CKA paddlers signed up, quite a crowd. 

We went to the left from the launch and went out into the large creek. We paddled first into the large creek but then turned left until we entered Burgess Creek. While the colors are peaking and it is quite lovely, I was a bit disappointed as there was not as much bird life as expected.

Still, a good day on the water, one of the last "wet suit" days. The dry suit will be a must starting this week due to falling temperatures.

My Camera Sucks

First I must rant: here I was at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and my Nikon was nearly useless. It was constantly either fogged up or had water droplets on the lens. It will fog up seemingly for no reason. If I leave it out of my pocket face-up it will get water droplets like these:

But I can not leave it face down or in a pocket because its light sensor also malfunctions. The only cure for that appears to be shutting it down after every photo. If I do not wait for the shut-down the next photos will be garbage, like these:

Both examples are heavily edited, otherwise nothing at all would be visible. I actually kind of like this one, but the first example is trash.

Lately I have taken to using my new phone (a Samsung something) as a camera when on the water. This is a tricky thing. The phone is water resistant and is in a "Life Proof" case. However, it has no lanyard and no way to attach one. It also does not float. Just imagine balancing in a slippery sea kayak, wind blowing, spray flying, and still being dumb enough to pull out a high tech toy? No, no sensible reader would do such a thing. But I would!

The photos I have taken in the last few weeks with the phone  have shamed my 3 year old water proof Nikon Cool Pix. I find I take less photos on the water but have more good ones overall. Also, as my phone syncs seamlessly with my Google account the photos are waiting for me online. I also find myself using it more often to shoot photos of household objects, pets, and art. I have even used it to take pictures of items I am posting to sell.

I remember reading a camera review about 10 years ago that said phones would replace point-and-shoots quite soon. I did not believe it then but am a believer now. I doubt I will buy another point-and-shoot camera.

Ah, the downside: Besides the fact that it does not float and can not be tied to me, there is also the fact that it is my phone. Phones and radios are generally considered to be part of the mandatory equipment we sea kayakers carry. Losing it could spell so much trouble, beyond the replacement cost, if it were needed to summon a rescue.

Oh, the angst! My First World Problem, oy!

Here are some random shots from the last few weeks, just because:

Yes, this is a cat tree. What of it?

One time, when I was walking these two at a rest stop, a man came over to pet them and talk about his own dogs. After a moment or two his eyes opened wide and he said "thems indoor dogs, ain't they?" And I said "yes, yes they are." I recognize some people would not live the way I do. But I am okay with that.

The Forest People

Wednesday was just a nice fall afternoon, went paddling with a friend. We did 7.12 miles in 1 hour and 49 minutes. Not bad time. The air temp and water temp are quite close at around 65 degrees F.

Thursday was sucked up by errands but I did get out to walk the forest trails with each of my dogs. We ran into the resident does and their fawns several times. I call them the "forest people." Having lived here more than a few years I have become familiar with the natives. There is a young fox that visits our cat in the evenings sometimes. And the deer, I recognize the does.

Two or three falls ago Fairfax County engaged a bow hunter to come into our neighborhood and kill the deer. "Big Girl," and "Little One," all 8 does and two bucks were "removed." I was pretty heart broken, as were some of my neighbors, especially the one fellow who put out feed for them every evening. The bow hunter said he killed every last one as they came and went from my neighbor's feeding spot.

So I have not named these does. I try not to get too attached. They are gentle and quiet, these forest people. They do sometimes eat my azaleas and pansies. I live on the edge of their forest. I do not mind the price, it is not too high, to live with nature so close.